Colo. Death Penalty Repeal Won't Move Forward

DENVER (AP) -- A Democratic proposal to repeal the death penalty in Colorado failed amid uncertainty about whether Gov. John Hickenlooper would support the bill.

A Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee expressed concern Tuesday about the doubts that Hickenlooper has conveyed about the proposal. Lawmakers voted 4-6 and the bill failed to advance.

The committee delayed the vote last week after a marathon hearing that attracted big crowds.

Supporters of the death penalty say it's a just punishment for the most serious crimes.

Democrats argued that the death penalty is applied unfairly. But the Democrats' plan to abolish capital punishment was thrown into question last week when they learned that the Democratic governor may not be on board.

Three men await execution in Colorado, but the bill would not have affected them.

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